After China's State Administration for Market Regulation said the defects in Tesla cars could affect the vehicles' backup cameras or cause the hoods to open suddenly while driving, Tesla is recalling almost 200,000 vehicles. The trunk and front hood is expected to raise the risk of collisions. The decision was taken hours after a similar recall was announced in the United States.
The order is the latest blow to the American self-driving car pioneer, which is hugely popular in China although the firm's reputation has taken a hit this year following a spate of crashes, scandals and data security concerns.
In June also the electric car giant recalled more than 285,000 cars in China over issues with its assisted driving software that could cause accidents.
Taiwan to China: Military conflict is not the answer
China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military and diplomatic pressure in the past two years to assert its sovereignty claims. Taiwan, however, says it is an independent country and has repeatedly vowed to defend its freedom and democracy. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen says that to ease tension in the region, both Taipei and Beijing must “work hard to take care of people’s livelihoods and calm the hearts of the people” in order to find peaceful solutions to problems together. Military conflict is not the answer. In Chinese President Xi Jinping’s New Year address the day before, he said the complete unification of “the motherland” was an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Pakistan-China agree to use full potential of Gwadar port
CPEC is a flagship project of China's $60billion Belt & Road initiative and it links China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar port, which provides an opening to the Communist country into the Arabian sea. The sixth session of the Joint Working Group on Gwadar reviewed the progress made and vowed to redouble efforts to tap the full potential of the Gwadar port. The CPEC is a collection of infrastructure and other projects under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013. Originally valued at $46billion, the projects were worth $62billion as of 2017. India has protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
In backdrop of Vienna negotiations, Iran launches a rocket
Iran aired the footage of the blastoff against the backdrop of negotiations in Vienna to restore Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers. The Iran authorities announced the launching of the rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three devices into space, without making it clear when the launch happened or what devices the carrier brought with it.
While previous launches have drawn rebukes from the US, the US military has still not responded or commented on Iran's announcement. Iran's civilian space program has suffered a series of setbacks, in recent years including fatal fires and a launched rocket explosion that drew the attention of former president Trump.